Sunday, July 18, 2010

Temple visit - Subramanya Swami Temple

Subramanya Swami Temple, Kundrathur

As mentioned in my last blog, Thiruvooraga Perumal, Kundrathur is famous for the Murugan temple. As soon as we got down from the bus, we went straight to the Murugan temple. There are about 60+ steps going up to the temple. Murugan being the ‘Lord of the Hills’, He mostly resides on higher levels.

Halfway up the steps, on the right side is a Valanzhui Vinayakar sannidhi. It was quite dark there, so we could not see the Ganapathy and continued climbing the steps to the main temple. As soon as we entered the temple, we could see another Ganapathy on the right side. We prayed to him and then proceeded further to see a huge Dwajasthambam and a sculpture of a Mayil (peacock).

We entered the sannidhi to see a very majestic looking Valli Deivanai samedha Sri Subramanya Swami with his Vel and Seval Kodi. When we enquired about the temple, the kurukkal readily said that it was about 1100 years old and built by Kulothunga Chozhan. Kundrathur also happens to be the birth place of Sekkizhar who wrote the Periya Puranam. This is the only temple in Tamil Nadu where Murugan is facing the North. On his way to Tiruttani after fighting with the demon Tarakasuran and defeating him in Thirupporur, Lord Muruga is said to have rested here for about an hour. The hill where he rested came to be called Kundrathur. This temple is also called “Then Tiruttani”, (தென் திருத்தணி) meaning Tiruttani of the South. Arunagirinathar has sung three hymns on the Lord here.

We could also see another very beautiful looking statue of Mayil - peacock, the vaahan of Lord Muruga - in front of the Murugan Sannidhi. As soon as we came out, there was Shanmugastavam engraved on the wall. We stood there to read it. In the outer prakaram, there were a Sivalingam, Bhairavar and Navagraha sannidhi. In the Navagraha sannidhi, we noticed that on the head of the Moon God, there was a half moon shape (பிறை சந்திரன்) which we have not noticed in any other temple. Then there was Dakshina moorthy right behind the Murugan sannidhi facing the South as always. In front of the Dakshina moorthy, there was a window on the main wall of the temple. I went near to have a look wondering if it was the temple tank, but alas, it was a dry place with lot of junk thrown in! The Sthala vriksham is an Arasa maram and we could see many cradles on it hung by people praying for progeny. Next we prayed at the Durgai sannidhi and reached the Dwajasthambam and did our namaskaram there and came away with a very satisfied feeling.